Reamer



Oct. 12 19.26. 1,602,794

S. A. ERWIN ET AL REAMER Filed Nov. 16, 1923 forms of cutter unitsPatented Oct. 12, 1926.

UNITED sures PATENT oFncn mania.

Application filet! November 18, 1938. Serin] Illo. 875,096.

Our invention relates to rotary reamers used in well drilling,

ing a mandrel up)on which a plurality cf cutters are remova facility anddispatch the substitution of new cutters when they become Worn orbroken, and the employment cf cutters of difierent size when it isdesired t0 vary the size of the reamer as a whole.

It is also a purpose of our invention to provide a reamer of the abovedescnbed character in which the cutters are of annuler form and providedwith eripheral bladea which may be of uniform ength to ronde 8. reamerwhich is concentric or strai t with respect to the supporting mandre, orof graduated lengths to form a reamer WhlCh 1s ezcentric or Offset withrespect to the mandre A further purpose of our invention is theprovision of a reamer having means for securely locking the severalcutter umts against movement on the mandrel; means for attaching thestandard overshot to the 'reamer in the case of a. twist off at thedrill collar; and cutter units which can be replaced at the rig andwithout the necess1ty of the employment of special tools.

Although we have herein shown and W111 describe only one form of reamerand two all embodying our invention, it is to be understood that venonschanges and modifications may be made herein without departing from thespirit of the invention and the spirit and scope 01! the ap endedclaims.

In 1: e accompanying drawin'gs,

Fig. 1 is a view showing in side elevation and partly in section oneform of reamer embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed perspective view of one of the cutterunits embodied in the reamer shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fi another form of cutter unit em odying ourinventmn.

Referring specifically to the drawings in which similar referencecharacters refer to similar parts, our invention, m 1ts presentembod1ment, comprises a tubular mandrel and a purpose of our, inventionis the provision of a reamer havd ly secured te permit with' 2 showing15 provided at its upper end with a threaded extension 16 which servesto connect a manrel section thereto, the latter being pro- V1ded Wlth anannular shoulder 18 and a threaded and tapered connection 19. Theextens1on 19 serves to connect the reamer au a unit to a drill tubing sothat the reamer can be rotated in the usual manner, while the collar 18forme au abutment against Whlh an overshot is adapted to bear ineffectmg the removal of the reamer from a. hole. The lower end of themandrel 15 is provided with a tapered and threaded extension 20 which isadapted to engage withn tl2i socket end of a section of drill tub- 1nounted upon the mandrel 15 are a pluraht of cutter units, each unit, asshown m 2, compns1ng an annular bod 22 provx ed at mtervals upon itsperip1ery vnth cutter blades 23 having cuttmg edges 23. These cutterunits are supported in super1mposed relation upon the mandrel 15 byspacm rings 24 which snugly but removably t upon the mandrel so as toperm lt the removal thereof as well as the cutter units. The severalcutter units and rings are immovablvsecured upon the mandrel by means ofc amping collars 25 and 26, the former threadedly engaging the mandreldirectly below the extension 16 so as to permit longitudinal adjustmentthereof upon the mandrel in clamping the several rings andthe cutterunits into tight engagement With each other and against the lower collar26. The collar 26 abuts a ainst the mandrel and toothedly engages wit1the adjacent end of drill tubing section 21, as shown at 27, thusretaining the entire cutter assembly from slipping off the mandrel, and,when collar 25 is screwed clown snugly, it also holds the cutterassembly against rotation With respect to the mandrel. A look nut 29 isprovided to secure the collar 25 against coming loose during theoperation of the reamer.

In Fi in Whic 2 we have shown the cutter units the axis of the openingof the annulus 22 intersects the plane of the annulus et an angle otherthan at ,right angle which angle, in the present instance, is ofsubstantially 60. As the blades 23 extend radially from the periphery ofthe annulus 22, it will be clear that the blades are hkewise disposed ina plane correspond1n& to that of the annulus. However, the cuttu 1gedges 23 of the blades are disposed m planes panallel to the axis of theocpenmfipf the annulus, as clearl illustrate m 1g 1 so that the ombinedefiect is to Produce a spiral cutting -edge when the cutter umt 15 in aplied position upon the mandrel 15.

As c early shown in Fi. 1, the cutters present side cutting edges avingbladcs or teeth, which cuttin edges are inclined to the axis of the manrel and are semi-helical in appearance: Because of the arrangement ofthe cutters and because of the fact that the upper end of one cutter isabove the lower end of the next above cutter, it will be readilyunderstood that 1pon rotation of the mandrel each cutter Wi make a eutwhich is materially greater in width than the thickness of the cutter.

In Fig. 2 We have shown a cutter unit in which the blades 23 are ofgraduated lengths so that whcn in applied position upon the mandrel, asshown in Fi l, they produce a cutter, the axis of whic ,is eccentricwith respect to the axis of the m'andrel. In a cutter of this characr anoffset out can be produced, as Will be understood.

In Fi 3 We have shown a cutter unit in which t e blades 23 are ofuniform length so that when a plurality of such units are in appliedposition upon the mandrel 15 they produce the efi'ect of a cutter orreamer, the axis of which is concentric to the axis .of the mandrel.VVith such a reamer a straight or concentric cutcan be efiected.

In practice, the eccentric cutter nuits mounted upon the rhandrel 15 canbe removed by first renioving the lower clanlping coliar 26 so as topermit the substitution of new cutter units, should they become worn orbroken, or the application of the concentric cutter units to themandrel, or cutter :units either concentric or eccentric of a greater orless diame'ter than the other cutter units. It Will thus be seen that bythe employmcnt of a reamer of this character concentric or ecccntricdrilling can be effected to form holes of gredetermined diametersdepending upon t e diameter of the cutter units employed.

By virtue of the simple manner in which the reamer may be assembled ordisassembled, and the fact that the joints between -the reamer and drilltubing are of standard lengths, no special tools are necessary otherthan the conventional tongs employed for disconnecting the joints of thedrill tubing.

What we claim'is:

1. A well reamer comprising a mandrel, and a plurality of cuttersmounted upon said mandrel through which the mandrel extends, saidcutters having fiat top and hottom surfaces which are inclined to theaxis of the mandrel and being provided with peripheral teeth.

2. A well reamer com rising a hollow mandrel permittin circu rationfluid to be forced therethroug and a plurality of disc like cuttersmounted upon the mandrel through which the mandrel extends, the planesof the dises being inclined other than at a right angle to the axis ofthe mandrel.

3. A well reamer comprising a hollow mandrel permitting circulationfluid to be forced therethrough, a plurality of disc-like cuttersmounted u on said mandrel throu h Which the mandre extends, the planesof t e dises being inclined to the axis of the mandrel, and spacingrings interposed between said cutters.

4. A well reamer com rising a hollow mandrel permittin circu ation fluidto be forced therethroug a plurality cf disc-likg cutters mounted uponsaid mandrel through which'the mandrel extends, the planes of the disesbeing inclined to the axis of the mandrel, spacmg rings interposedbetween said cutters, and means bearing against the top and bottomcutters for preventing their rotation upon the mandrel.

5. A well reamer comprising a hollow mandrcl permitting circulationfluid to be forced therethrough, and a plurality of disclike cuttersmounted upon said mandrel through which the mandrel extends, the planesof the dises being inclined to the axis of the mandrel other than at aright angle, sai.}}cutters being provided with peripheral tee 6. A wellreamer comprisirig a hollow mandrel permitting circulation fluid to beforced therethrough, and a plurality of disclike cutters mounted uponsaid mandrel through 'WhlCh the mandrel extends, the planes of the disesbeing inclined to the axis of the mandrel other than at a right angle,said cutters being provided with peripheral teeth of unequal langth.

7. A well reamer comprising a hollow mandrel permitting circulationfluid to be forced therethrough, a plurality of disc-like cuttersmounted upon said mandrel throu h which the mandrel extends, the planesof t e dises being inclined to the axis of the mandrel other than at aright angle, said cutters being provided with peripheral teeth, andspac1ng rings separating said cutters.

8. A well reamer comprising a mandrel, and disc-like cutters havingperipheral teeth mounted il on said mandrel, said mandrel' at a rightangle to the lune 01? the body, teeth fom1ed upon the peripheral surfaceof and teeth f0rmed upon t e peripheral surthe body, said teeth bing ofunequal leflgth. face of the body.

10. A cutter for well reamers comprising names to this specification. adisc-like body, a bore through said body, v

the axis of which is at an angle other thah at SHANNON A. ERWIN. a rightangle to the plane of the body, and ELWIN W. F ORROW.

In testimony whereof we have signed our 10

